Massive displacement records in West and Central Africa, as per recent UNHCR reports
The crisis of forced displacement and statelessness in West and Central Africa has skyrocketed to alarming levels, with a staggering 12.7 million individuals on the move[1]. The primary drivers of this crisis are conflicts, climate calamities, and a decline in international aid[1][3].
From conflict-ridden landscapes to climate-ravaged regions, protection risks for women and children are escalating, making up 80% of those displaced[1]. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported an increase of 48% since 2020, with Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon hosting over 80% of the internally displaced persons (IDPs)[1].
Alarming data reveals over 1 million Central African Republic citizens were displaced as of April 2025, despite a slight decrease from the same period in 2024[1].
The UNHCR is orchestrating voluntary returns to countries within West Africa, with 14,600 refugees returning to Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and Mali between January and April 2025[1]. However, ongoing tensions and reduced aid budgets in home regions pose significant challenges to the safe and sustainable reintegration of returnees.
Chad is currently hosting 780,000 refugees fleeing Sudan's civil war and anticipates an additional 250,000 arrivals by year's end[1]. While the UN supports these voluntary returns, resettlement departures jumped by 34% in 2024, with over 4,600 individuals relocated[1].
Nonetheless, the UNHCR's operations are drastically affected by funding cuts, leading to reduced food, shelter, medical care, and protection services for displaced persons in the region[2][3]. Europe's international migration routes are becoming increasingly perilous, as EU nations and their African partners crack down on migration flows towards Europe[4].
Increasingly desperate migrants are resorting to dangerous routes, often becoming stranded[4]. Experts propose a radical shift from border control measures towards fostering regular migration and creating legal pathways for migrants[4]. This would address labor shortages in destination countries while offering migrants access to educational and employment opportunities[4].
Despite the challenges, experts call for increased development investment, international cooperation, and strengthening humanitarian aid to address the root causes of displacement, such as conflict and economic desperation. Sustained global support is crucial to provide a better life for displaced Africans[3].
[1] UNHCR (https://www.unhcr.org/)[2] US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (https://www.refugees.org/)[3] International Organization for Migration (https://www.iom.int/)[4] European Commission (https://ec.europa.eu/)
- The alarming levels of forced displacement and statelessness in West and Central Africa, which has reached 12.7 million individuals [1], are primarily driven by conflicts, climate calamities, and a decline in international aid [1][3].
- Protection risks for women and children are escalating, making up 80% of those displaced due to conflicts, climate calamities, and reduced aid [1].
- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports an increase of 48% in displaced individuals since 2020, with Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon hosting over 80% of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) [1].
- Over 1 million Central African Republic citizens were displaced as of April 2025, despite a slight decrease from the same period in 2024 [1].
- As a result of funding cuts, the UNHCR's operations are drastically affected, leading to reduced food, shelter, medical care, and protection services for displaced persons in the region [2][3].
